Selling the Poor: The Politics of Value Village

In the past two decades, second-hand clothing has — like many other cultural objects of the poor — become trendy, coveted and hip. There is now a bursting local market of vintage clothing shops, international online retailers and even commercial corporations like Urban Outfitters selling used and “revamped” items. While many second-hand stores often do contribute to charity, build community and decrease dependency on the global sweat-shop economy, when it comes to the massive retail corporation Value Village — where the reselling of donated used clothing is a corporate strategy marketed to poor people — it is critical to examine Value Village’s actual politics and their effects on low-income communities.

On the one hand, the search for cool second-hand goods has led to an increase of middle- and upper-class people shopping at Value Village. This expansion of its demographic has certainly normalized wearing second-hand clothes. This normalization has perhaps led to a decrease in the stigma that poor and working-class people may experience when their clothing is not visibly name brand, from the mall, high quality, or trendy. However, this has also led to the increasing prices of Value Village and other second-hand stores who are taking advantage of a developing market where second-hand clothes are a surplus commodity — objects that already exist, demand very little labour power to sell and maintain, and result in high profit levels for the original owners of the products, the owners and investors of Value Village.

This widening market is both responsible for and a result of a fetishization — a revaluing of an object for the purpose of consumption — of the clothing and style of poor and working-class people, particularly clothing racialized as belonging to a particular racial or ethnic group. The style of poor people is taken out of its context and sold as a commodity – appropriated – because it provides to consumers implied meanings that are both spatial (think rural or urban) and cultural (think dangerous or uneducated). One need only look at the lifestyle clothes of celebrities — and the way this is translated into mainstream, fast fashion — to see examples of poverty being fetishized.

But the key to how appropriation and fetishization work are that, for those with economic or racial privilege, they are choices, temporary, and ultimately stylistic; one can “choose” to take on the signifiers of poor and racialized groups of people without the social, material and legal consequences that really being poor and racialized mean.

This leads me back to Value Village, and what is by now a kind of love-hate relationship with the company. Since my first shopping trip there two decades ago as a poor teenager, I have witnessed Value Village becoming increasingly expensive and — indeed — unaffordable. I currently have relative economic privilege to choose whether or not to shop at Value Village or at select other retail stores, within reason. So my bone to pick isn’t about Value Village’s accessibility to me, per se, but to the community of low-income people it purports to be providing “used quality goods to,” and the ethical issue of framing itself as a charity, when it is in fact a multi-national corporation.

Value Village is actually owned by a large American company called Savers, who are one of many corporations owned by the conglomerate TPG Capital. One of the impacts of Value Village being one of many companies owned by this multi-layered corporation is that the profits from Value Village need to travel all the way up to TPG Capital. Meaning Value Village needs to make a huge profit. By selling at a high price its surplus commodity, Value Village can maintain its workers at minimum wage, pay administrators, donate something to charity (exactly which charity and how much is being donated is unclear), and finally — most importantly — pay out its wealthy investors.

My local Value Village, like so many Value Villages, is located in a neighborhood that is on the busy city-bus line, and is annexed between low-income rental units and small private property. This particular Value Village is therefore situated within a low-income community and, through its marketing strategy “Buy More, Spend Less” has advertised itself as economically accessible to poor and working-class people. However, the actual products inside Value Village are marked very differently from the store’s claims. Value Village is not fulfilling its claim to help communities when in reality the pricing of the used goods is often economically inaccessible, all the while requiring customers to do the physical work of rooting through often worn-out, stained, and broken merchandise to find something affordable. Over the past 10 years, the prices at Value Village have become inconsistently and drastically high, sometimes more expensive even than those very same clothing items purchased new from discount retailers like Ardene, Sirens, Wal-Mart and Joe Fresh.

I have complained in person and in writing to the manager of this particular store, only to be given the corporate line that, “As a store we place over 10,000 items to the floor daily and 95 per cent of the items sold are under $10.00.” Anyone who’s shopped at Value Village knows this is clearly not true, with regular products priced upwards to $25.00. And these are not exceptional or “high quality” products. In fact, the idea that a “high quality” item should be priced higher is dubious; wasn’t that product donated in order for a low-income person to have access to it?

In any case, I believe that $10.00 is too much to pay for used, donated clothes when the minimum wage of an Ontario worker is $11.40/hr. The employees of Value Village would be hard-pressed to clothe themselves and their families at the prices Value Village now demands.

It is time that Value Village changes its everyday business practices to reflect its mission statement and the needs of low-income community members. But we can’t expect Value Village to do this on its own, as it is invested most of all in profit.

Locally, we can support the $15 and Fairness campaign or learn more about the growing living wage movement in Southern Ontario. Or, we can choose to donate our used goods to actual non-profits like the Working Centre or MCC’s Thrift on Kent, where profits are used to support social programs.

Emma is a PhD student in English & Cultural Studies at McMaster University.

151 Responses

Good article and it is very true.. the prices are ridiculous for what it is… USED STUFF.. and while I appreciate they have to make some profit for their oversized buildings and employees rivalling your Walmarts.. I think that this one in particular, is Wayyyyy over the top. as far as, so called Thrift Shops go..While I do like to pay well below retail, for book,,because I read a lot.and older furniture and collectibles.. I question, a “Thrift Shop” that slaps a $12.99 price tag on a used pair of shoes of all things, while I can go to the mall and buy them for $10.00 all day long at Stitches.. . . I remember when I lived in Windsor how the truck would roll right up to my curb on Woodlawn, and collect my bags of used stuff.. all in the name of charity.. for the Diabetes Society I believe it is..Ahem….~eye roll~

Emma, I wholeheartedly agree with you. Value Village stopped to be a charity institution long time ago, and has become a wolf in sheep skin. I can’t remember now what I was explained by someone in detail but it goes in the following line from what I vaguely remember: to be registered as a charity in Canada there is an amount of money threshold they must meet. VV pays 18% tax instead of 30% like charities because they meet the threshold and can get away with it because of the huge sale margins. Anyhow, the people that get hurt are those with less financial means exactly those who need more those charities. And the charities which then are forced to compete unfairly.

As a previous manager many of the claims here are not accurate. Value village is not and has never claimed to be a non profit. They are a for profit company, they purchase the merchandise from non profits. Some fact checking here is needed.

I worked at this store n I can agree that they do price to high. I also can tell u that if the products don’t sell within weeks of hitting the floor the items are throwing into the garbage or sell as rags. All these items can clearly be donated to the poor n unfortunate but instead they just toss away. It’s a shame I brought up this issue with many people in the company and was told ” oh well it’s the way it is”. I was very disappointed with the company when it came to dealing with items that don’t sell. There must be a better way to deal with items that don’t sell. Please don’t donate as they throw away 50-70% of the items that are donated to them

Though interesting and agreeable, this article seems mostly anecdotal with no sources or facts. With the amount of false articles online, it is difficult to take anything seriously without research present. I bet you would get a lot more interest generated if that was included. You mention it’s unclear what charity they support but you don’t mention the ways in which you have tried to get the information. Proof that it is for-profit? Exactly how much does Value Village net vs. How much is it giving? Is there proof it’s profits increased with price increases or was that assumption? Ect.

I won’t donate to Salvation Army because of their policy on gays and Lesbians. I had heard that Goodwill has a CEO that makes 7 figures, will someone tell me the truth please. I have been donating to Bibles for Missions on New St. In Burlington and to Cerebral Palsy, who picks up at the door. HELP!

Great article, many good points but there is one thing where the public train of thought has to change. Thrift shops are a place to buy second hand (or some of it pre-owned but never worn, tags still on), not necessarily a place to sell to the poor. There shouldn’t be a stigma attached to a person who buys at a thrift shop or expectancy that they’re poor. I don’t shop Value Village for a few reasons, mostly I prefer to support a non-profit mission and also one where the money stays in the area. If it’s brand new with tag and the original price is on that tag, take it to a supervisor and point it out, see if they’ll alter the price for you.

I find $25 too much to pay for a pair of jeans at all because I don’t buy designer but $25 is a good price for designer. If people want a pair of designer jeans for $8.00 then they need to go to church sales. THAT’S where you’re going to find the tresures!

I am a very regular shopper at Value Village. I shop there not because I’m poor, or in in some way want to pretend that I am, but because I like their selection and it’s a fun and social shopping experience. It consistently offers an enormous selection of styles and eras in contrast to the dreadfully monotonous shopping malls. As for labels, there are as many on VV’s racks as one would find in regular stores, possibly more.

I’m not sure why the writer thinks its for the poor. I have no expectations around their claims of money going back to the community. The Salvation Army is recipient of my used things and it is priced for people in the lower end of the economic spectrum as are churches and other local 2nd hand shops.

Yes, prices have gone up at Value Village over the years, but that also depends on the shop’s location. Generally, I find the prices higher in Vancouver than around Ottawa. But having just paid $12 for most amazing wool, mint-condition overcoat in Coquitlam, I can tell you that even that varies. And I’ve never paid $25 for a pair of their jeans. Like any shopping purchase, individuals make buying decisions based on need, want and price. Value Village is no different.

P.S. I once found two of my Salvation Army-donated sweaters at Value Village (they were quite unique and found on the same rack, so I know the merchandise is moving between them. I’ll ask the Salvation Army about how/if they’re paid next time I do a dropoff.

I would like to mention that working part time at Value Village; this article is extremely misleading. First Value Village has never attempted to portray itself as a non profit organisation. It repeatedly mentions as part of company standpoint and employee instruction that it looks to work with local companies, and the money the company provides its non profit partners are a massive amount of its overall cost.

On top of that the article tries claiming minor staff costs involved while knowing nothing of the fact that half or more staff that exists in the back end sorting through, pricing donations and outputting merchandise that doesn’t sell to other second and third world countries which can use the goods. An organisation that is attempting to be socially responsible as best as it can at every level of its operation.

In terms of the goods sold yes some can be increasing in price, but generally the policy is that used clothing be sold for 20 percent of its original price. The same people you have complaining on these blogs about people turning their nose up at used then complain about the prices for the exact same reason. The biggest complaint I have is when walmart clothing is sold at the store for less than it would be there or at other various box retailers. The reality is these are pricers following guidelines trying to price, and while they can easily estimate some Bananna republic jeans, they don’t carry a constant inventory of discount store prices. If you can show a manager that the price of an item is cheaper at its actual source I can 9/10 guarantee they will adjust for you.

Why should a year old 90 dollar pair of pants be three dollars ? 10 to 12 seems reasonable considering the condition and original price involved. As I mentioned no one pretends that value village is trying to be non profit; its trying to make a profit while having a positive impact in terms of reusing clothing and providing a huge amount of money to non profits.

There are dozens of thrift stores in my area alone, that cater to used clothing and some of them have raised prices, but even at value village you will find a large majority of clothing lay priced under ten dollars as low as 3.99 usually (ignoring accessories).

I might agree in cases prices might be increasing unrealistically in certain areas, but its far from the money grab its being portrayed as. Addition try and look into the amount given to non profits before dismissing it as negligible. The only reason its difficult is because non profits are hesitant to show their funding as it dissuades other contributions.

I give my used stuff away to families on a facebook group tell them to take what they can use and put the remainder back up for the next person … i stopped donating to stores for these kinds of reasons

Hi Kathy Please consider donating to the salvation army. I know about them personally and know that they care and love for all people. They never turn away anyone because of who they love. I had heard there were random instances of individuals speaking out on their own in the past but never the organization. The foundation is on sharing the love of Christ and He loves everyone. The money raised at the Thrift stores (after paying the employees and building costs) goes directly back into the community to help people without homes, children, refugees etc. All the best : )

I personal have seen products from the dollarama in my local value villages … priced higher than original price from the original store.. AROUND THE CORNER. usually all kitchen and candle stuff is done like this now. And NO EMPLOYEE of this rip off business can tell me that cant be true. When I see the damn dollarama STICKER or PRINTED logo inside the product.. and the new price is MORE.. it is like…. do you really think that is honest ? candle holders are a great example of this. dollarama price tag on item for 1.25 value village sticker…. 1.99 or more… depended on SIZE. that is beyond stupid.

I worked at Value Village for years. Believe it or not, they do put out over 10,000 items a day 5 days a week. There is a full back room of hard working people sorting and pricing. (I think the price has gone too much), but that is one of the only correct statements in this story. Value Village (Savers) buys all of the donations from The Diabetes Association. (and others associations)

I shop at Value Village because I like the ease of finding the categories of things I am looking for. I don’t have to navigate acres of merchandise to find my size. The stores around here are well-organized, clothing grouped by type and sizes, with an adequate selection. I am not poor. I don’t have to shop here. But I like to. I’m not trying to look like a poor person, I’m looking for clothes that I like. Perhaps my age makes me look for things that are a few years older in style. I’m not offended by the fact that they are a for-profit company. I’ve read quotes from charities that they are happy to be partners with VV and see this as a valuable fund-raising tool. I’m not offended if some items cost more than $10; I can choose to buy it or not. How many of us buy articles of clothing that cost more than an hour’s wage? If you, as a consumer, know that something is priced higher at VV than at Dollarama, then buy at Dollarama. That’s smart. A smart shopper always does comparison shopping. I think all these factors can come into play when we decide where to shop and what to buy, and as long as there is transparency, you are free to decide. Not able, perhaps, to shop wherever you want, but you can decide.

I once saw a blog post a while back of a Canada goose jacket tagged at $300 at value village. The author confronted a manager about it, and even informed him it was a knock off jacket, probably not even worth 300 brand new, and got a spell about how they don’t have time to check authenticity, and poor folk wouldn’t know the difference anyway, and that he needed to leave the store. They ridiculous overcharge for everything (example I saw a Christmas tree for $60, on which half the lights didn’t even work, as noted on the tag, when a brand new, higher quality, working tree starts at $90 at Home Depot), and it’s gotten very much out of hand.

I also have complained in person and written to the company. I told them I have donated 100’s of dollars worth of product to their store and i have seen my stuff on their floor priced higher than i had payed for it originally. Their response was “We are a for profit organization. If you have a complaint please speak to your store management” when I told them that I already had I got no response. This store is a joke and I have stopped donating and patronizing their stores!

I don’t know which Value Village you worked for but the one in my community relies on donations and then resells the used goods at a much higher price than they are worth. I’m sure that the company makes donations to charities but I used to believe that this company’s main purpose was to provide clothing and other items to those in need. I for one, no longer donate to such companies but instead to local non-profits. If I wanted to sell my used goods for a profit, I would do so myself.

Ok. I now got the insider information I could not give before so here you are:

Value Village (VV) is virtually tax-exempt, as charities are. They get away with this because they have promised donatios of 14% of clothing sales to charities, but this applies only to clothing sales, which are proportionally donated; sales from all other merchandise such as jewelry, furniture, books, appliances, household stuff in general are all for profit. And of course, the 86% income of the clothing sales go straight to their pockets. 1 single family has made a billion fortune using these scheme. So, in relation to former comments about the poor or not the poor, etc, the point here is that charities usually work for people in need and those with weak financial means, usually called poor, with the intention of HELPING this segment. That is why they are not taxed, that’s why they keep prices low and that is why they are tagged CHARITY in fisco world. Most of people with low incomes and financial hardhip shop at charities. If a charity charges high prices then the poor cannot access to those supplies. So the point here is that VV can charge as much as they want and make all the profit they want, but only as long as they are not called charity. If you get away with no paying taxes and getting the label charity just because you donate to charities 14% that is unfair for everyone, for private companies that donate lots of monies and dont get that label, for poor people that are conned, and for the other charities that have to compete unfairly.

I’m a volunteer at Missions Thrift Store (formerly Bibles for Missions). Thought you may find it interesting to know that Value Village buys the items in bulk from us that we deem unfit to put into our store.

Totally agree….cash grab under a guise of helping the needy! We donated used articles only to see them a few days later priced at more than we paid for them…..WHAT! Thrift stores abound in the southern USA and you can buy gently used articles for a dollar or two! NO MORE VV FOR ME!

Depends on your state, but there is no sales-tax exemption for second hand goods in any state that I know of. I don’t know why Salvation Army doesn’t charge tax but if you have problem with sales tax you need to take it up with your local politicians.

I do think the writer doesn’t really understand second-hand shopping and seems that she probably has never bought anything second hand. I’ve never seen a Value Village in a “poor” area. I’ve never thought of them as serving the poor. They sell second hand goods and some of us like to shop second hand goods because we feel it is better for the environment and just smarter, not because we think it is cool to act like poor people. I just can’t help but feel the writer is a bit of a snob.

They are a business that sells items to make money. They price their products just like every other business, at the highest price they think they can sell it at. They are not a charity. That Walmart sells their cheap stuff cheaply has no relation on the price that a 2nd hand store sells them at. And sure there are things that are pricing errors. It is tough for pricers to know the price of everything, particularly for many of them that shop at their own store more than anywhere else.

In what world does selling individual used items”demand very little labour power to sell and maintain”. If the writer understood anything about this business she would know how labor intensive it is.

“In any case, I believe that $10.00 is too much to pay for used, donated clothes when the minimum wage of an Ontario worker is $11.40/hr. The employees of Value Village would be hard-pressed to clothe themselves and their families at the prices Value Village now demands.”

Again, a little elitist to think that someone can’t buy a shirt for $9.99 when they make $11.40 an hour. If they are truly living in poverty than they can get used goods from an actual charity.

Value Village buys their merchandise from charities. So, Salvation Army got some money for your items. Value Village actually provides a service for charities to make some money easily. Not all of them want to open their own stores and pay the costs associated.

I understand you don’t like what they pay, but they provide a service, a way for those charities to make money that don’t want to make the invest in having a retail front. No different than someone bringing a consignment store a bunch of stuff that didn’t sell at their charity sale. Value Village provides them a service.

The Salvation Army does not have a policy on LGBTQ, that was one guy (in Australia?) who was let go, very unfortunate situation for the SA overall, it especially does not reflect the agency, especially in Canada. Also, if you donate to SA that donation stays in your community. Most of the thrift shops are operated by a local ministries and employ folks whom they support. I can say that the Salvation Army is one of the best run charities around the world, 70% of what is donated actually makes it to the people they are supporting. I wish I didn’t have to sounds like a “know it all” but I’ve worked for the SA for several years and have seen first hand the impact they make. I wish it were easier to find this kind of information for the proper charities to support, but your best best is to go down a local youth shelter or women’s shelter – if they can’t take it usually they can tell you who can.

I’ve run a socially conscious thrift store for almost 12 years,proceeds towards,youth,environment and education in St.Marys and around the globe.my clothing is mostly $5. I hear everyday how awesome the prices are and I reply….yes they should be! Old school proud thrifter

They wouldn’t be in business if they sold things for “a much higher price than they are worth”.

“If I wanted to sell my used goods for a profit, I would do so myself.” You are free to donate wherever you want of course but you can not sell your used goods for a profit. You don’t have a business, you don’t have a building, you don’t have the market, the investment to sell your things at a profit.

FYI: All business buys things for a price, then they mark them up. They mark them up as high as they believe their customers are willing to pay. Then they pay their expenses and hopefully have money left over, aka profits.

The owners of Savers could have invested in Tar Sands. Instead they invested and reaped profits from a business that makes it easy to keep unwanted clothing from the waste stream, offering it to a secondary and tertiary market. Excuse me, but aren’t there bigger fish to fry? Sure, if you have a truly local group to buy second hand from, do it. But please don’t attack an organization that has a successful win-win-win model on many levels.

we donate to”our place” they give clothes free to those that need them (i’m sure if you looked there would be a place like that in almost every city ) I too find V V boutique(value village) getting outrageous in their pricing and i do not like that Salvation army discriminates against gay people

As others have noted, no research apparent here, or analysis based on verifiable facts. Prices are higher at Value Village than they were two decades ago? Well, the minimum wage in 1997 was $6.85. Inflation since then has been over 40%. Value Village is a business, not a charity, and if one wishes to support a charity, rather than just find cheap used clothes, there are better choices. But as the recent bankruptcy of Goodwill in Toronto and other parts of Ontario demonstrated, even charities need to cover costs. Charging more for a used item than it would cost new sounds like a flawed business model, and I doubt that it is widespread, but in any event I find it hard to believe that many people shopping at VV because of financial need are victimized by it. They’ve heard of Dollarama too. These parts of the article, entirely anecdotal, are well-refuted by “thrifter” and others. The other thesis, that those who could afford to buy new clothing but choose to shop at thrift stores because used clothing has been “fetishized” by the fashion industry are driving up demand and hence prices, is debatable. Surely the idea that wearing used clothing is hip rather than humiliating is a good news story, both for those who have little to spend and for those who care about the planet. But if buying a used item when I could afford a new one is some kind of wrongful cultural appropriation, it matters little whether I bought it at the Salvation Army or a for-profit store.

As an employee of Value Village in my community I totally agree with this article. Due to the job market I had no choice but to work here to survive and pay my bills. The prices ARE to high and we as employees have stated this fact but have been told that if we feel this job is not for us then we can always find other employment. That’s not easy to do in todays job market. I congratulate Emma for this article. She hit every point spot on. Way to go Emma!!!

The author’s argument is irresponsible and one-sided by claiming that the other reason one shops second-hand is because it’s a fashionable, or ‘hip’ activity. There are a variety of reasons why one shops second-hand, including the economic argument or the variety of fashion styles available, the opportunity to to reuse what has already been produced or to promote minimalism. To state that the rise of vintage and second-hand clothing is fetishization of the poor is dismissive of a very rocky economic 10-years that has brought cost-saving opportunities to the fore-front, in addition to the rise in environmental destruction and global warming. While I am not stating that shopping at VV while combat environmental destruction (maybe the opposite..), I believe the average consumer would rather shop second-hand than purchase something new again. Regardless, I think this argument misses the point.

On another note, while donating your clothes locally to the Working Centre or to Thrift on Kent is supportive of social programs, you are donating your clothing to local causes that rely highly on volunteers and not on providing a living wage to those doing the volunteer work. This unsustainable business model is placed on charities to be the most effective charities as possible while continuing to rely on unpaid volunteers to keep their administration low. As with VV, it seems that these charities are doing a very similar thing. Relying on low-paid or unpaid workers to make their bottom line. As with the fight $15 living wage, it should be understood that the fight continues to eliminate unpaid, exploitative work.

This article is spot on! And with all the prices being outrageously high, their hiring practices are also questionable. Who does the hiring,? who brainwashes these employees to believe they are doing their community justice by offering these second hand articles at reduced costs!! when they mark a worn out pair of shoes at 9.99? Do they choose employees they can manipulate and control into believing they are helping? It is a circle that needs to be broken! They employ people less advantaged and take advantage of them. I was trying to find a couple of blankets for my animals and everything was priced at $4.99 or higher! little worn out baby blankets! I work at a school and love the books there. The prices are outrageous, I would like to purchase a lot of books to donate to the children at the school. I have asked for reduced prices if I purchased a box, and Definetly a NO! The recycling of products is ideal and produces less waste in the landfills but at whose costs?

I don’t know where your value village is located but my local one has very reasonable prices. The store itself is clean and organized. My son work there for a time, he got a staff discount and received benefits. He also told me the had a monthly poundage list to various local charities and UNICEF and united way. I guess I’m lucky with the value village I go to.

I know this is true. I have just decided to buy new clothes that cost the same as the prices they are charging and donate to Salvation Army . When you donate to Salvation Army a great deal of the goods are given away as clothing vouchers and housing startups to the really poor people of our community. All the profits made form sale at Sally go right back into the community providing beds,meals,treatment, counselling,and medical needs.

A secondary point is that second-hand stores of all kinds, like yard sales, church rummage sales, and the like are regularly visited by those who sell similar wares for profit. They are looking for significantly underpriced items to snap up and resell for their real value. I do not begrudge them their livelihood, but it is naive to think that market forces are not at play just because the donors intend to benefit a charity or the poor.

I just bought a $5 winter waterproof ski coat and a $4 pair of snow pants from VV and the jacket even came with a $10 bill in the breast pocket. Not only that but the clothing is donated through Big Brothers Big Sisters and Canadian Diabetes Association, and that’s how those charities make a lot of their money for their programs. So, really, I have no problems with my local VV,

I had no idea of this when I go there but it is true I always felt they charged over what they should. I mean the few and hard to find other used clothing stores cant compete with the multiple locations of these guys not to mention how they pay their low income staff I now know to keep it size, price and color co ordinated if they can. Thats a ton or work!!

I used to work for the family that owns this coorporation, and have friends that still work for their management. They are kind, humble, and they purchase from all sorts of charities in communities and provide many jobs. If you think their prices are high, shop elsewhere, but know the main reason is that their headquarters where a lot of wear house sorting takes place is in WA state, the HIGHEST minimum wage in the country, and rather than move to another state and save money, they pay the wage and pass the costs onto consumers. It’s still cheaper than $95 jeans at department stores, and sometimes if you look, there are brand new garments with original tags still on them. It’s a great thrift store for the money. It’s not like Goodwill where the workers are explained after all, or Walmart where they keep workers below benefits levels and so over 50% 9f workers need public assistance. Sheesh

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I also have witnessed the better quality stuff set to the side to go to specific resellers never ending up in the racks of the chsrity, they split suit sets up selling each piece for what you used to get the entire thing for and when I donated a new set of pots and pans they seperate the entire thing selling the entire set for more than double retail, they so not recycle anything from there on, the metal and other payable recyclables go in to scrap bins to be sold to scrap yards, sometimes never even hitting the sales floor before, clothes go to rag sorters and get sorted for value, even the ones we can’t sell here go to 3rd world country’s that charge for our rags to wear, the books and paper and mags might or might not get recycled, glass ware and dishes get distroyed rather than go to places that help the poor set up house..I have lived this entire scam from both sides, they claim they price higher so the resellers won’t steal their money, really? Why then do I have to fight the same folks on half price or dollar days lined up with 3 shopping carts that leave little for folks like me to save on…I’m with you good job…sorry you got your quarters worth out of me..

The author of this article, Emma, is spouting too many politically-correct talking points for her facts to be taken at face value. For heaven’s sake, in what world did the buying of used clothing and used household goods become trying to emulate the poor or appropriating the “poverty culture”? (Whatever that is anyway. Sounds racist to me.) And how did Emma decide which shoppers were actually poor, and which were middle or upper class? By looking at them? Their colour? Their clothing? Their modes of transportation? This is a bunch of opinions from a young person who is prejudiced and doesn’t think logically or clearly.

People donate to VV because it is easy to do so, thereby diverting old but still usable items from the landfill, which is environmentally correct, btw. If one wishes, one can donate to other thrift stores or charity shops of choice, but then usually a private car is needed to take the items there rather than having it picked up.

As far as pricing is concerned, as at any store, if you don’t like the price, then don’t buy the item. Is that so hard?

VV employees get paid. The other charity and thrift stores in my area rely on UNPAID workers (“volunteers”) to do the same job; this reliance on unpaid labour is taking away entry level jobs from people who would want and/or need those jobs.

As a regular weekly shopper at my local Value Village, I too, as well as friends, have complained about the pricing of items that are DONATED and that are priced close to “new price”!! I have also been questionable about the fact that I shop at the local Salvation Army and “The Post” (ran by the Mental Health Program) and I don’t get charged GST on used items but somehow, Value Village gets around that and does charge GST!! Value Village needs to definitely look at their pricing of DONATED items!! They can not be pricing based on brand name – it’s an item that was dropped off as a donation!!

After donated items go through “Fort Knox” ie the back door…where valued items get sold to “resellers” or fill employee bags, the remainder get sold at ridicously high pricing to customers. Very pathetic. I hope this store goes bust.

Why is running a business like a business “pathetic”? I think we have already established that VV buys items (in bulk) that have been donated to certain charities. Then it resells them for prices that reflect the cost of running the store and other market factors. The fact that it is doing well, while the non-profit Goodwill went bankrupt, is an indication that things don’t work out contrary to normal business principles just because you are trying to help people. And if you think that resellers and volunteer/employee presales are unique to VV you have never been involved in a charitable rummage or book sale.

PLEASE PLEASE SHARE THIS POST.. This person has hit it right on the head.. I am hearing in some stores it’s so bad now that the management is going in early and doing the the job of the workers to skim wages off the min wage people that are trying to make a go..

It has turned to a corporation run business and totally forgot where they are and why they were established.

In this post that was shared is only scratching the surface of what must be going on as the public and media only gets what the need to get to look good in the public eye..

Walk through the door and you will see..

The prices are through the roof and the workers are on a hourly need to know basice where they stand for a pay check.

Hell all you need to do is Google the net worth of savers . numbers speek for them self..

(Savers has more than 160 non-profit partners throughout the United States, Canada and Australia, which it pays more than $117 million annually. As of 2012, the company had 315 stores worldwide and reached $1 billion in revenue.)

But in the business way it’s a very smart run business .. Your clothes come in free you weigh and pay out to the orginazions you support..

It’s a simple process .. With the increase prices the stock moves slower but the profit margin is higher and at slower sales the less wages to stock the shelf..

It’s is a brilliant way to make money..

In the post that I shared it is there when it is said the prices are for the more wealthy to but not for those that walk in off the street..or in fact live on the street…

They may not be a non-profit, but they receive a lot of goods via donation (ie; free) and sell it for marked up prices. I’ve seen some things sold from there with the original price tag on it still and they were selling it for 5x the original price. I’ve also seen a lot of items with wear and tear being sold at prices above that of a brand new version. In no world should any article of clothing in Value Village be anywhere close to $100, let alone over it.

They get free donations. They should mark what they sell accordingly. Fine. Make a profit. No one’s saying they shouldn’t. But it’s pretty much false advertising when there is absolutely no ‘Value’ to be found in those stores.

Value Village is a second hand, used clothing shop. That in itself speaks towards being aimed at people that can’t afford brand new clothing. It’s a thrift store, which by definition of the word ‘thrift’ means it’s aimed at people that are trying to save money; ergo, being thrifty. They receive clothing via donation, so they spend little to nothing on that articles that they’re selling. They’re making anywhere from an 80%-100% profit on what they’re selling. Yes, you’ll find name-brand things in the store, but they’re used name-brand things that other people have owned and then given/thrown away. When it originally opened, and when I used to shop at it when I was a teenager, it was actually affordable for people that needed what they sold. I could get a second hand pair of jeans for anywhere from three to ten bucks. Now? I’ve seen items in there marked up past a hundred dollars. Some people have gone out, bought new things specifically to donate, and donated them, FREE, to VV. VV then decides that since it’s in such good condition or brand new, they can sell it at those prices, if not higher.

Sorry, but no. That’s not a value, that’s not thrifty, and it pretty much craps in the face of what a second hand store is supposed to be about.

Value Village in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, and in New Minas, Nova Scotia (as those are the two I’ve been to) both claim to be not for profit, and with proceeds going to the Diabetes Foundation. So people buy believing they’re a) getting cheap and b) helping a charity, and that is NOT the case, not even close…And they are definitely increasing their prices. Tanktops at New Minas are 10 bucks a piece.

Charles your theory is a complete lie!!!!!! I have shopped at Value Village ever since it first opened up! You show me your store’s end-profit and how much of it is actually going to charity!!! I have seen the stuff the Value Village would throw away and not allow anybody to take it!!! Why would they want it to go to the landfill if someone else could use it and they are here to help the poor?? I want a damn answer Charles! I posted my own comments about what I felt about Value Village long time ago because I felt the same way where their prices are way out of hand and only a small percent of their profit goes to charity. Their stock is not the same and no longer take certain furniture or things I always use to look for. I remember taking my nieces dumpster diving to the Value Village and they thought I was nuts until they saw how much brand new toys, still in their original packaging, they threw away everyday. They through out TV stands and other furniture that was in mint condition! I said it can’t be any different then my grandpa bringing stuff back home from the dump to reuse or build an electric pea sheller out of. LOL! They used to lock their massive dumpster but they would still get inside of it. So Value Village now has an enclosed dumpster to stop the homeless from taking anything. I constantly pick on my mother to quit dropping things off to this American company. I tell her take it to either the Salvation Army or Bible’s for Missions because 100% of their profit goes to charity. I remember when I couldn’t afford any new cloths or a winter coat and the Salvation allowed me to just take what ever clothes I wanted for free! This is not something Value Village would ever do and don’t tell me they couldn’t afford to Charles. The other thrift stores have done this for decades and they are still here operating their store. This is where I use to get upset at the Value Village. There would be a stock of toys, cloths, etcetera at the side of the front window. When ever I went snooping through it or any homeless person, the staff would come freaking out by saying, “You guys can’t just take any of that stuff”. I said, “Actually yes they can, it was all dropped off by someone who didn’t need it and right now it is free for anyone to grab it. None of this belongs to the store!” They knew they couldn’t stop them from taking anything so they would quickly send two guys out there and haul everything inside. The homeless would still grab clothes from there before the store opened up which is why all drop-offs are handled at the side door now.

I will go to look around on50% off days once in a while. Was in our store in Sydney recently for their lastest sale event. I was wearing one of the five brand new winter sweaters which was reg $55 at Reitmans that I got on clearance for $5 At Reitmans.

Every sweater I looked at in VV Was priced $9.99 1/2 being &5 Many were knobby, worn, well washed, holes and stretched. Pursues all $10 Etc

I can get better buys on clearance racks in any store, all new.

Like seriously who’s making the decisions for this business.

I do not donate a thing to them anymore. I donote to other organizations that give it free. Or sell at a set cheap price.

People can do even better yet, Go onto your buy and sell sites yourself. Sell cheap or even donate to someone in need. We all know someone in need.

The writer of this article is assuming an awful lot and her take on how things work at Value Village is pretty far off the mark. Her flowery language is also a bit much. ‘ fetishization’ etc. Get off your high horse lady.

Value Village is not a charity, it’s a business. They are for profit and they employ people in your community. People complain about the prices and say they can get the same item new for the same price. I’m doubtful. Then why not go and buy it new? Noone is forcing anyone to buy anything.

Value Village employees cannot buy anything for at least 48 hours after an item has been put out for sale on the sales floor. Theft is discouraged by bag checks at the end of each shift.

Pricing mistakes do happen, after all the pricers are human. If something has a Dollarama sticker on it for less, point it out, the price will be adjusted ( they will beat the Dollarama price)

New items with original tags are priced below half price, roughly 40%. Still a bargain!

Consider that roughly 1/4 or 1/3 of items donated are good enough for resale but it is weighed and paid for before being sorted. If you were to mistakenly donate a bag of household garbage it would be weighed and the charity would be paid by the pound.

If you donate to Value Village, you get up to 30% off your purchase. They have punch cards to allow you to receive 30% off AND they regularly have 50% sales off clothing, shoes, linens, purses, hats, scarves, belts, socks, mitts and gloves.

Tony, in fact the large dumpsters are compactors and they are locked to prevent people from climbing in them and getting killed. It is also illegal to take donations after hours. Just a bit of info for you.

Poorly written article. First, it comes off sounding like someone is trying to impress readers with their extensive vocabulary. Secondly, the article is not fact based -at all. Well written investigative journalism comes with facts and sources. I stopped shopping at Value Village for two reasons; their prices keep climbing and climbing that I no longer find them to be a place for deals. Secondly, what I find truly interesting with Value Village is their games prices. Most games sold there do not contain all the pieces of the game (as described on the outer box), but the prices do not reflect this. You can literally compare prices on two monopoly game boards being sold at the same time; both selling for the same price, but one is missing either cards, money, or tokens, or any combination there of.

I work for the Salvation Army as a nurse and I can tell you this is not true. We do not judge a persons lifestyle or particularly support it. We are neutral. The Salvation Army exists to share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.

Hi Emma, I’ve read your story and I’ve heard the complaints at a local level in barrie area. As a professional organizer and senior move manager we drop items at value village. I completely understand what u r saying, however value village takes everything and many items other charities won’t take. And the barrie store sends items to Africa. I’ve worked out a relationship with the manager as we don’t want perfectly good items to go into a landfill. 95% of what we do is recycle. I also have worked for 20 years in non profit social services and some $ goes to those local charities $ that they would not otherwise receive. We could get into a debate over all of this. I would like to find a solution to this problem in a political system that is broken. Our politicians r making $ on our backs as well and government employees r paid much better than most jobs out there and WE r all paying. It’s not just the corporations.

I’m open to finding a solution. social media is wonderful for creating change. The solution needs to be a WIN for all. If we force the corporations to change…they will just move onto something else leaving a gap to serve lower incomes and help our environment.

Where do they dump their junk? Not landfill sites. They dump them on poorer countries like Bolivia for example, harming these communities because they make it cheaper to buy their junk than produce their own, sadly affecting other nations. And that is capitalism at work.

Uhm… Goodwill is not nor ever has been a Charity. A long time held urban belief because of the name. The company is quite genius in its structure actually. Everything they receive has been donated to the company by misled people. The company sells their now free inventory at a pure profit. NOTHING is donated to charity. The owner and CEO of Goodwill Industries has long made millions of dollars in income, all based on inventory that people give to the company. As I said… quite a genius plan.

Just keep donating to your local charities… loom for food banks or shelters as they are always looking for items… also check facebook for local giveaway, refrugal and pay it forward groups… you can post your items up for offering to anyone who needs it… members will then comment if they are interested or in need of the item and you can choose whom to give it to.

Ive shopped at different locations in Ontario and New Brunswick… and i can attest to items donated for free being upcharged 100%… ive found Dollarstore items with the price tag still on for 1-3$ and the value village tag asking $4-10 for the item… There was a woman who donated her jeans… found them on the rack priced at $25.95… she pulled them off the rack and complained stating she had only paid $15.99 for them brand new when she bought them… had she known they were going to rip people off she would have just gave them away to someone in need… There’s and entire fb community dedicated to outing their overpricing and bullshit “values”

Yes!!! Im in quite a few groups like this and even admin my very own for this exact reason… too many greedy people out there thinking only of themselves and not of the hundreds/thousands they could/should be helping!! I love my groups… ive helped soo many people in need and many who just needed a hand up… its not a hand out when you’re working your butt off everyday and still have trouble making ends meat…

The author never claimed that they are non profit. I believe ( I could be incorrect though) that her problem with it is that people donate to Value Village thinking that they are helping to make the donated items available to someone who can’t afford brand new clothes. The author never states that they are non profit. I’m curious which of the other “many” claims are not accurate or what she should have fact checked?

They do purchase merchandise by pound, and they paid ridiculous prices for every pound, for example to the Canadian Diabitis Association, who actually picks up and delivers the merchandise to Value Village and they get a very low amount of money for doing this, the Value Village announcements say that they support and donate money to local community programs which is not quite true. They rely in this announcements to kind of make think people that they are actually a non-profit. Despite the low prices they pay for this merchandise being delivered to them by the non-profit organizations, they receive other donations that are deliver by customers or random people directly to the store. They pay very low wages to their employees also, even though many of their employees have worked there for many years.

VV is still good value for someone like me. …The prices have risen…but still less than brand new retail. Having just combed the malls for a Mexican getaway in January…there was NOTHING in the stores! I checked out a few VV…got several gently used items for 55.00 CDN…and happily walked out. This is a viable alternative for many…and I am not poor. I shop regularly at the Salvation Army too. The Bay…which at one time had a good shopping feel about it now reeks of elitism…..I don’t need designer…I need value for my hard earned money.

No, the author claimed that they are PERCEIVED as a non-profit, charitable organisation, and thus obtain donations under false pretences. You can’t really fact-check that. She claims that people donate their used items to VV or charities which sell items to it to make them available to low-income people, which is an unsupported and perhaps unsupportable claim. She claims prices are higher than two decades ago, which is probably true but needs elaboration. Most things are more expensive than they were then. In any event, it’s a business. not a community service organisation. or a government-sponsored monopoly like the TTC. If prices are too high; go elsewhere. Then there is a lot of mumbo-jumbo about fetishization and appropriation, which implies that it is as inappropriate for a middle-class person to buy a pre-owned T-shirt as it is for a white person to don blackface. Really?

Not one of your opinions are backed by any facts, data or credible sources.

There are Value Village’s located all throughout Vancouver that I frequent with plenty of items being priced between $3.99 and $10.99. Your line “Anyone who’s shopped at Value Village knows this is clearly not true, with regular products priced upwards to $25.00” is simply not a universal truth as I sit here wearing a sweater I picked up for $4.99 that is basically brand new. You also stae “Over the past 10 years, the prices at Value Village have become inconsistently and drastically high, sometimes more expensive even than those very same clothing items purchased new from discount retailers like Ardene, Sirens, Wal-Mart and Joe Fresh.” So, can low income and impoverish persons not also shop there?

In addition, yes, many of those companies do have clothing that is price at $1.99 or $2.99, but what you aren’t taking into consideration is that these companies are considered “fast-fashion” retailers. The products they sell are produced in factories from third-world countries by employees that are working in abhorrent conditions. Do you remember that Joe Fresh was one of the companies that had “employees” or as I and many others would call them, slaves, working in the building that collapsed and killed hundreds in Bangladesh?

Yes some stuff is way over-priced . It is also pretty bad that they slap a large price on stuff that is broken and not worth anything. Even alot of the church run thrift stores sell alot of the clothes donated to places for rags

Knowing how value village is actually run and comparing that to how this author thinks its run is actually good for a laugh. at least now i know i cant rely on this website to provide accurate information. this article is nothing but some pathetic attempt at a commentary on classism and consumerism while painting value village as the villain while providing no real information. check your sources. here is a break down of how I did it

walk into the store ask to speak to the manager ask him to tell you about value villages policies. thank him

here’s how the author did it. wrote down how they think or heard VV operated maaaybe did some googling. maybe. shoehorned in a strange view on how the rich are appropriating poor people culture. published.

vv is a for profit company though. they do a lot of good work for charities, what isnt sold is donated to countries in the 3rd world for people in need or to help young people start businesses.

just be informed people and dont blindly follow what a article on the internet says, or what i say. go out and find out for yourself.

So to sum up the information posted by employees and shoppers at Value Village, I understand that the items are purchased by VV for very little money ( pennies per pound for what they refer to as sellable goods) from non profit charitable organizations. So although it is pennies per pound at least the np orgs are getting a bit of money for their haul. If people donate DIRECTLY to Value Village, no other np org is benefiting and all the free items are 100% profit. If you don’t donate through a np then they don’t get a piece of the pie. I remember when VV first opened, they were initially linked with Cerebral Palsy and did in fact claim to donate a portion to then. The general population, myself included assumed they were a non profit/charitable org. It was misleading the way the initial advertising was done. Shopping for second hand clothing is not just for people with lower incomes. It is also a great way to recycle, buy used and is trendy for those of us who are concerned about the environment and sweat shops etc.

I was biting the bullet when I came across this post, after reading all the posts I knew the facts that are correctly stated and those that are not. I credit Emma on her ability to deliver an editorial about a subject that is long overdue and ignored by the leaders especially here in Canada .I do not find it shocking that so many of the comments showed how little we Canadians truly understand about Value Village. I have done my research and it is available to all who take the time to read it. I have been posting online to many media outlet, radio stations, newspapers, local charities, local MLA Offices, even Better Business Bureau, who informed me that Value Village is not a registered member. We,Canadians donate to our local charities to benefit our most needy, homeless and low income. I only speak one language,English,apparently I am not getting my message to the people who should have investigated this misuse of the words, For Profit, Not For Profit, Charity and Donations. Why do we not tell the truth the whole truth about how absolutely mismanaged the Super Sized Warehouses ,belong to Americans cause our local charities to need grants to exist. Billions of dollars in donated Canadian Offerings are stocking their stores,with very little return to our local charities. All your kindness and caring is not doing enough for our homeless, needy and our own hurting people here in Canada.

Seattle Times only a few years ago stated a registered Civil Suit, in Minnesota against Value Village, they were charged by the court and large fines were paid also to the local charities. the charge was, Misleading The Public, by not making it known they were a For Profit Business. Their charge today would be pennies compared to their profits. Believe me, our charities do have the right to do as they wish with the donations, they requested in the name of their charity, but the Canadian people have the right to know who truly their donations are helping. Is that $29.99 winter jacket going to a homeless person,or is that price out of his price range? Considering, it was sold to Value Village for pennies on the dollar, plus all the other items Value Village take without paying a penny Value Village will sort through all the donations, picking only the best Name Brands, these items are then weighed and they pay pennies per pound for only, “Only the clothing, bedding and curtains” All other items such as pictures, lamps, dishes etc., are free to Value Village, apparently part of the deal. I was told that the charity who calls your home for donations are not paid for the time they work on the phone. Talk about fair and just return for using your charity name, which we know are not for profit charities, your time and so little respect for the Canadian People who not only donated the goods but we are also the ones who are your customers. So, much for being the Canadian who is such an easy pushover, I am Sorry, Value Village, but I am a senior, wasn’t born yesterday, raised in a family of 14, know what first-hand, second-hand and worn-out means. I understand charity, donations and hand-me-downs. Greedy, is foreign language to me.Canadians! time to take care of our own .All that profit going over the border, could put a roof over the heads of our homeless, Charity, begins at home, there is more to this story. Goodwill, is also based in the States. Yes, Salvation Army, St. Vincent DePaul, Mustard Seed, Youth Emergency Shelters, Unity Centers to name just a few. Make your donation, make a difference for those it was meant for in the beginning.

I wish they would make a law to not allow any store that receives free items to mark them up like value villiage does. It was once a place I could go and buy a few outfit every 6 months or so and maybe spen $30 or $40. Now if I even bother going there it’s $12.99 for a used t shirt. I can’t afford that. My dad went in last year to find a coat. The cheapest coat he found was a spring jacket for $50. He needed a winter coat badly and couldn’t even afford that stupid spring coat. Value village should be closed is Canada. It’s not a value to anyone unless you are middle class and above. The people that need it can’t afford to shop there anymore. Salvation Army isn’t to far behind.

Lots of people and single parents are complaining about their prices, specially for mothers that just gave birth including myself 5 yrs ago, i thought i could buy cheaper clothes for my infant at VV and was hoping i could have got good because its slightly used clothes but i was wrong. A piece of sleeper pj for baby was tagged $12 and i compared it at walmart which is brand new for $9.99 a set of three. I was hoping that a little amount of money that i have in my pocket could go a long way. I laughed, and said to myself that i’m lucky that i didnt buy anything at VV they rip off people. I was so, frustrated and feel sorry for people that is hoping they could get a good deal at VV. Need to close that business or lower their price thats affordable to everyone.

Do you think Bibles for Missions is making the world a gay-friendlier place?

The group is described as an “evangelical Christian ministry dedicated to making disciples, training Bible study leaders, and church planters around the world. The thrift centers, which are for-profit and operate as separate entities, were formed by Bible League to help financially support the mission.”

Used stuff has been in and out of trends going back to the 70’s , maybe even the late 60’s. Remember Cindi Lauper in the mid 80’s for an easy reference. Anyway , you are right about VV prices … they have become stupid. I don’t shop there anymore. Whoever chooses the pricing is an idiot. They were in the ball park about 10 years ago and have steadily gotten worse ever since. The sooner they go bankrupt the better.

They charge those prices because they are catering to the middle class, and they can afford their ridiculous prices. As, I said the people the donations were meant to benefit, homeless, needy, low income, students etc., can not afford the prices Value Village charges for items they paid little to nothing to have. The purpose of charity is to help support those who need warm and decent clothing. I hope I am not in the minority of Canadians who see how wrong it is that, Value Village hide behind our charities names and are taking from the most needy in this country. Shame, on us all who see this as acceptable. Just remember the millions of dollars our government promised as grants to support these same charities. Someone needs to be doing some book-keeping. Why are grants necessary for our local charities if they are being paid so well by, Value Village, who are making millions, while that money is not staying in Canada. Our local charities are working for Value Village, while using their charity name to touch the hearts of our kind and generous tax -payers, the same people who are already keeping the Value Village Stores well stocked, not to mention also the same people who pay their high prices and therefore making this business very profitable. One does not need to be a genius to get with the program.Tax-payers again being held responsible to support some of the same charities who accepted millions of dollars in donated goods ,from our local communities, for many years and instead of selling directly to the public at a much more acceptable cost. Our donations were passed on to this Big Warehouse American Business for pennies on the dollar. These charities are not surviving, why, because they are feeding the monster they created. They allowed Value Village to choose the donations they wanted ,remember they only paid pennies on the dollar per pound, for clothing, bedding and curtains. Boxes of other items,for free, were necessary in order to get paid for the clothing.

The true charities should be those who will give a person a coat or shoes if they can’t afford to buy. I believe that the public truly thinks that their kindness is being passed on to local people in need. If you gave your donations to make a Big Box Warehouse sending most of their profit to the States, then you are the ones who are Making America Great Again. Those who meant that all profits from their donations stay here in Canada, then lets get busy. The monster has been well fed, for too long. My purpose is to have no one sleeping in our streets, no hunger and Canadians taking care of our own first. There are decent charities here, lets get together and share in the benefits and do what is expected of us. With the profits that Value Village has made of the backs of our giving people, that kind of money could have made a big improvement in the lives of the less fortunate. Please!!! Lets make a difference. Charity, begins at home.

I totally agree. I work at a Value Village & know how the company works. I can only speak for my own store but we do lots of work for the community & our non-profit organization. I think people need to ask questions before jumping to conclusions. Just ask a Manger or do some research!

VV doesn’t’ rip off people…that’s just ridiculous. Don’t shop there if you don’t like the prices. Go to Walmart…..now there is a profit making company. the owners are listed as the top billionaires in N. America I have been buying used clothing for over 40 years. It just makes sense to me. Where do you think all the unwanted clothing will end up if they weren’t given freely to VV or any other outlet? In poorer countries shop owners buy used clothing that comes to them in tightly bound cubes. They pay so much a lb. I shop there too, if I happened to be short something.

I like VV because I can choose the labels, and the content of fabric. I don’t buy George, or any other common label. why? Because a small amount of labels actually are sewn properly, they fit far better and the fabric is far more natural in most cases.

I look for the more unusual and most often find it. Why would I pay $125 for a shirt or jeans when I can pay $12? What is the difference in the product if its been worn before. Unless its faded, or ripped? Take it home, wash it, iron if needed…voila, No one would ever know the difference.

I just read a post saying that value village buys all donations THAT is clearly not true, have you seen the outside of the receiving doors, its regular people dropping off loads of stuff , and I seriously doubt they are taking those donated items to the back and weighing it, actually I know for a fact they are not because recently I purchased an item that was just dropped off at the door the young man bringing in the items priced it for me and I took it straight from the donation door to the cashier , so to say that value village pays for all donations is NOT accurate and I also do agree with the over priced items ,I would never pay 12 dollars for a pair of used shoes or 12 dollars for a single used bed sheet , I have seen $9.99 on a table cloth the same one I purchased at walmart for $9.99 , its buyer beware when you shop ,I look for certain items when I go and if I find it to expensive ,I will search other places for it . I would like to make a comment on the salvation army I worked for them as a sorter, they do donate all unsold clothing , but when anything else does not sell after a certain amount of time like books, games, toys, dishes it goes straight in the trash ,,,all metal is sold for scrap and old boots and shoes are sold for the leather , oh yes and by the way I worked with a woman who was lesbian and married to another woman so you might want to hold back on the no acceptance of gays , they actually do help everyone who needs it

Great thoughts. While I can understand how you are feeling about this, the simplest solution is to stop buying from them. The second part is to stop giving to them. Value Village *is*, after all, a “for profit” organization and what you have heard from their manager is called “diminished responsibility” like any other industry we judge necessary but run by profit – big pharma, big oil, banking, insurance etc. they are all the same. Money and more of it is the bottom line. Buy from Salvation Army or some other non-profit organization instead. And donate all your thrift store stuff to these guys instead of a profit-making one that is taking free things and making a killing on them.

Your article is well researched and accurate re Value Village. The many charities that collect for them are helped a little by selling the donations they collect but they do work hard for the profits they make that do go back to the charities they represent. The thrift market has many for profit dealers as well as true non for profits charities that truly give the excess to their mission. With many charities the prices are near market prices but the real test is what they do with their excess, the true charities can document where the excess goes. The good charities have programs to help the poor like vouchers for free clothes or support local hostels and food banks etc. I am not aware that Value Village discounts or gives clothing to the needy. I agree we should stop giving to them and the charities that collect donations on their behalf (many of the charities that collect for them don’t easily identify where the clothes go) Please give and shop only to the true charity shops that give back to the community.

Value Village in my area has a computer in the back room and they look many items up on ebay and base their price on that. They are all about profit and the prices keep rising. They sell buck store items for twice the price. I have seen them sell items out of the back room to customers. Salvation Army used to be very reasonable but the one in this city has prices comparable to Value Village. Bibles for Missions and St. Vincent de Paul are the best. Great prices. Staff volunteers and St. Vincent helps out the needy with free items. We also have an SPCA thrift store that specifically helps our city`s SPCA. I never donate to VV or SA and do not expect thrift prices in either store anymore.

I believe the situation is actually more distasteful than this article states. Many of the clothes “donated to Value Village” were actually given to charities like Big Brothers and Big Sisters, or the Diabetes Society (who get paid a meagre sum based on total weight) with the donors having no idea that their “charitable” donations are supporting an international conglomerate. When questioned on this subject everyone gets pretty evasive.

Further, Value Village has the gall to advertise that they are saving the environment. Their current advertising campaign suggests that everything they sell would have otherwise ended up in landfills, thus they are an environmental champion. Really? Does anyone throw good used clothing in the garbage?

On a positive note, there are lots of great charities that will actually put your old stuff to good use. In the Halifax area I take mine to Phoenix, Adsum House, or Hand in Hand in Spryfield.

Their prices are getting higher. But I still enjoy shopping at Value Village. First of all, their stores are clean, well organized (unless it’s one of the 50% off days and they are a mess due to many people rummaging through items).

I go to VV to buy CDs and Blu-rays. The price for CDs are $2.99, which, I think is too high considering CDs are just not big sellers anymore due to streaming and mp3s. But I can’t complain when I can still find newly sealed CDs for under $3. The average cost of a Blu-ray is $6.99 to $7.99. Again, people are moving to watching movies online so they are a bit expensive.

Agree with a post above that mentions people can drop off donations. At the Bloor/Lansdown store in Toronto, you can see the drop-off section at the side of the store. But donators do get discounts. (VV will not let a customer buy an unpriced item, though).

In Toronto, I think VV has benefited from the closing of Goodwill. I see many people who shopped at Goodwill now visiting VV.

Interesting! Here in England, charity shops are unabashed in their goal to raise money by the sales of the clothes for the charity they represent, not to make cheaper clothes accessible to people with small incomes. The British High street has loads of shops that have disposable fashion from China for that: Primark, Peacock, Matalan, etc. and also the supermarkets. Hilariously, when these items end up at Charity Shops, they’re often priced higher than when they were new.

This “opinion piece” is all over the place. It lacks rigour one would expect from a PhD student and as such, diminishes academia. In response to the author’s myriad points: EM: Normalization of second-hand shopping has cause prices to go up at VV. ME: Please explain why that is a problem. Supply and demand will regulate. EM: Second hand clothes take “little labour power to sell or maintain”. ME: Please elaborate. VV stores employee many people. EM: VV contributed to the appropriation of the “style of poor people” and the “fetishization” of poverty. ME: Please elaborate. If all kids are wearing ripped jeans, the poor kids won’t stand out, right? EM: The poor don’t have say about choosing their clothes; the non-poor can move on to another fashion statement. ME: Haven’t some of the most important fashion trends emerged from the urban poor? Regardless, this paragraph is a complete distraction from what appears to be the main point of the article. EM: VV frames itself as a charity. ME: This is wholly incorrect. EM: VV seeks to make profit. ME: Please explain why this is wrong. EM: VV claims to help communities. ME: VV claims to help communities through support of charities, not directly through its stores. EM: VV prices have become high, more expensive than other stores. ME: So shop somewhere else. EM: Items were donated so that a low-income person could have access to it. ME: Please provide evidence of such intentions of donors. EM: VV prices are high relative to Ontario minimum wage. ME: If a minimum wage in Ontario is your point, then you need to make a better argument. EM: VV business practices do not reflect its mission statement. ME: Please explain what is wrong with the following statement from the VV website; the claim to giving communities a “smart way to shop” seems fairly harmless: Value Village, a Savers brand, is a for-profit, global thrift retailer offering great quality, gently used clothing, accessories and household goods. Our business model of purchasing, reselling and recycling gives communities a smart way to shop and keeps more than 650 million pounds of used goods from landfills each year. We also help more than 120 nonprofit organizations by paying them for donated goods, which supports their vital community programs and services. All in all, we operate over 330 locations and have 20,000 employees in Canada, the United States and Australia. EM: We should support “actual non profits”. ME: See above; VV is not a non profit. EM: We should support a living minimum age movement in southern Ontario. ME: Great idea! Why don’t you write about it?

Apparently, you still don’t have the story correct. Value Village does not give clothing to our charities, it is our charities that collect the clothing and other donations and Value Village only pay them for the items only clothing, curtains and bedding. Value Village sorts through the donated goods, collected by our local charities and after they pick the clothing/curtains/bedding they want(usually Name Brand) these items and only those items are weighed and Value Village pays pennies per pound. All other items with the exception of the material items are not part of the items they pay the charity for. Many boxes of items are full profit to Value Village, they are only part of a quota in order for the charity to get paid anything for the clothing etc., As a Canadian a charity is usually run due to donations from the public, in order to assist our less fortunate. Yes, anyone can purchase items from the charity, but when the charity is working on behalf of a company like Value Village and they pick the best items and leave the charity with the left over junk. Leaving the charity to have to compete with the American Monster they are feeding. Then there is nothing of any value left to purchase. Someone needs to inquiry why our local charities are working for a for profit business and all profits going to the United States. What is wrong with we Canadians, charity begins at home.

I see no value in buying at Value Village! I can buy most items brand new, at cheaper prices! Too many times I have picked up dollar Store items there now marked with higher prices! Value Village is no longer for the needy. It now caters to the trendy rich!

One persons opinion, just another example of some crybaby complaining about something they know nothing about all of which he has zero proof of he is just shooting his mouth off, even reading comments on this page are so inaccurate just like the article itself. Value village pays for EVERYTHIGN they get unlike goodwill everyone assumes it’s donated so it’s free, well no that’s not the case at all. It is weighed and then paid for by the company and yes everything is weigh and paid for some articles like to claim this is false, and every value village pays a certain non profit company like the store I work at is the diabetes foundation. This person also wants the company to cater to only one class of person (poor) there by ignoring another class of person (middle class etc) Items are priced based on quality and brand name and is always less then new in a store we can’t alienate one class of person over another as that is being prejudice. While some items might slip through the cracks usually a dollarama item and be priced higher then average, for the most part that is not the case we also have to check ebay and go out and check average prices in stores to make our own prices. The person complaining in this article is probably a middle or upper class income earner and has no idea how long it takes for pricing what goes into running a production floor etc, so sick of whiners complaining about stuff they no nothing about. The internet is a tool for people to bitch about everything because they feel slighted because they want stuff for free. They also forget employees work there and need to be paid I guess they think everyone works for free. people are idiots don’t believe everything you read people. I can buy upper class brand name shirts for like 6-8 bucks sometimes under that (Nike, tommy Hilfiger etc) in like new condition. George, Walmart brands sell for that or more. Oh it’s also upper class middle class that typically complain the most, we see this all the time when they come in and buy only the brand name stuff and complain while doing it. Yet they still do it because it’s way cheaper then other places. some stuff is brand new like my sons nike winter jacket was priced $49.99 with original tags same jacket in athletes world was $$239.99.

Also anything that doesn’t sell is not thrown in the garbage like some less intelligent people like to think. it is donated to charities for free. They don’t pay for it like we do. We also donate to over seas countries that are poor and need help. I know this because I’m in management. VV is one of the better if not the best when it comes to helping out other charities unlike goodwill who was recently sued and had numerous people fired for stealing while getting 7 figure incomes and they pay for nothing everything they get is free and every dime they make goes into the pockets of there ceos etc

You’re so damn wrong, educate yourself VV doesn’t pick and choose what they want to buy and EVERYTHING is weighed and paid for including tube TVs couches you name it. I know this because I over see it being done. Also people drop items off all on there own, and guess what those are weighed and paid for by VV so if you drop off a tv it gets weighed and the non profit organization that this VV works with gets the money. That’s right, so get your facts straight, educate yourself before posting stuff that makes you look stupid because you clearly know nothing of what you speak/type.

Also people complaining about prices being higher now, well guess what it’s like this across the board, when minimum wage goes up to $15 an hour everything will be going up again in every store from thrift to grocery and everything in between. How do you think companies are going to combat the higher wage cost? merchandise needs to go up. This happens every time everywhere yet people can’t figure that out yet. So lets say a pair of Nike jogging pants are selling for 49.99 at a sports store and VV sells same pants in excellent condition for 10.00 well guess what once that $15 an hour kicks in, in Ontario within a few months that 49.99 will be 69.99 and VV will have to adjust as well and might sell for 12.99. It’s simple math people and how economics work. Get with the program. But like anything you can choose not to buy it, you can choose to pay the 69.99 price tag over the 12.99 tag. Why complain about something when no one is forcing you to buy anything. Fact of the matter is people see a great deal and want it to be better. So before talking about greed of companies look in the mirror and see the greed in yourself. At least these companies pay employees and keep people employed and contribute in other ways by donating to less fortunate after 3 weeks of an item not selling. What does the writer of this article or any of you complainers do to contribute? Nothing. you simple shop look for the best deal and complain when you don’t like the deal that is starring you in the face.

As far as I know Value Village has never pretended to be a charity. The VV here in NE Calgary buys stuff from charities who collect it at the door. I get calls from the Diabetes Association, Cerebral Palsy, Kidney Association, and Community Living. They collect at the door and sell to VV – a caller from Diabetes told me that across Canada they sell goods worth more than a million dollars a year. VV pays per pound of goods donated to these four charities. there may be more but these are the four charities who regularly call me to donate something.

I have to say that the writer of this article is extremely uninformed. I have worked there for two years. It is very clearly displayed in every store which charitable partner benefits from the donations. The partner is paid for every item received, whether it is trucked in by the charity partner, or dropped off at the store. Yes we make minimum wage to start. But we also have excellent benefits, bonuses, a company matched rrsp program, and an EAP program. Prices may have gone up, but it costs a lot to run a business, and we are treated well. Millions of lbs of clothing and household items are kept out of landfills, whether by sale, recycling, or by shipping overseas for use in developing countries. I could go on, but all some people see are increasing prices, but I see a fantastic employer, working symbiotically with charities, and goods diverted from landfills.

My favourite thing to do is shoplift from VV. Mostly shoes, sometimes other stuff. I call it the VV Exchange. I go in wearing flip-flops and leave with something nicer on my feet. Yes, that makes me a bit of a shitbag, but it feels great to stick it to VV just a little.

Where does the author state VV is a non profit? I couldn’t find a sentence reflecting this, could you please highlight it? Perhaps some closer reading with a more open mind and fewer defended is also needed here…

Many false facts in article. IE they have never advertised as being non-profit, local charities get money from donations and, employees ARE PAID!! Next time suggest author do some actual research first.

I totally get what the article is trying to say but it really needs some fact checking. You cannot blame the manager of the store. They have to price things according to company policy. This changed a few years ago which is why prices have gone up. Every donation that comes in value village is owned by the candian diabtes association ( at least in this area there is many other non profits they work with) and VV pays them for these items. Saying that people who work at VV can’t afford the stuff the sell is a lie for the most part as employees and their immediate family gets a big discount on items (50% off clothing). A lot and I mean A LOT of item comes in brand new still with tags so of course they will sell it for more. But there’s also still clothing for 2 dollars and lots of it. But some people wouldn’t mind paying a bit more for a very expensive brand name like Lululemon and even them it’s usually 75% off of what you’d pay for it brand new. VV also has tons of sale days where you can get stuff for even cheaper. I know all of this because I’ve worked for the company and know tons of people who still work for them and yes they have their flaws but they aren’t the devil in disguise. And if you don’t agree with their prices or policies there is many other thrift shops like goodwill or even local ones.

I had been shopping at VV locations across B.C for over 20 years and I have watched it go completely downhill.

There is NO “Value” in Value Village anymore where a $10 Ikea table sells used and banged up for $20, or where dollar store items that sell for $1-$3 are sold for as much as $60! The problem is they don’t have any guides on how things should be priced, and most of the time it’s up to the person pricing the item to determine the value.

I have also found child pornography (Shota Manga depicting graphic under age sex) at two locations and imediately pulled it from the floor and reported it to the manager only to be told there is nothing in their policies prohibiting them From selling them, and found them back on the floor the next day.

As well as finding a pornographic card game amongst the childrens games and toys.

I stopped shopping there 4 years ago and haven’t looked back. Also, on a side note beware of the following:

1. The S.P.C.A thrift only donates about 10% of their profits. The people that run these often make out like thieves as they fill their homes with goods that never make it to the store. I know 5 stores that did this (2 separate owners).

2. The Salvation Army thrift shop has a deal with Encorp and recycles almost all of the electronics it receives, including working and brand new items still in the box. I have witnessed this and protested it which is when I was told about the deal with Encorp where they MUST meet their qutoas by the kg! in order to obtain the payout and maintain their contract.

Have you seen the prices in a goodwill or Salvation army lately? they are pathetic. I seen an UU Sports bra and it was used but priced at $25!!! come on. 100 for an ac that you can buy for 98 at walmart. they are not fair either. The Goodwill claims to have people on staff that are maybe “otherwise unemployable” and they have 1 where I live and about 20 F/T employees and those re-retailer stores are making a ridicules amount of money on used stuff that use to be sold to the less than fortunate so that it served as a place we on fixed income could buy things. Now people with all the money in the world buy up the stuff and the thrift stores just rake it in, and love every cha-ching they hear.

I would never shop there again reason being When I sold my big home I gave everything I didn’t want to the community living other name value village and 3 days later I went in the store in Moncton NB and I saw a pair of shoes I wanted and they wouldn’t even give me a price reduction so I said it was your last I would ever donate to you …I never went back and neither did they give me a coupon when I gave all the stuff I found out later they were suppose to ….Now their so high I rather shop at Giant Tiger or Walmart

Value Village also has a lot of employees here in Kamloops including my spouse. A lot of other thrift shops have volunteers. Some other thrift shops pay staff as well. By banning certain company’s you are also hurting the people that work there.

Really sad isn’t it? How can they say they benefit the community? No point in speaking with management about their high prices? They don’t listen. I heard the Charities they support do most of the work with collecting the items, and then are paid very low per bag? I often walk out with nothing because I cannot afford it. I have gotten some new clothes and new items in Malls cheaper than VV. Don’t you just love it when VV marks up a price and you already know it came from the $ Store, only to be marked up by VV. SA, another Thrift Store, while good for housewares prices, are also terribly expensive for clothing?

There is one Thrift Store in our area that I’m so proud of. They are Christian based and actually have reasonable prices which the poor can afford. That is doing justice for those who need it. I love to spend my money there because when they benefit me, they benefit others, so I donate my items there. They are so reasonable. The others need to practice what they say.

Also, with the over priced thrift stores, when they don’t sell enough, they claim that costs are high and they need to raise their prices, but when there is a demand, then they say they need to raise their prices because of the demand. Like talking out of two sides of their mouths? They profit either way at the expense of their customers.

Just dropped in after an extended absence and gob-smacked to see the prices on what is FREE USED stuff. Walked out empty handed. It didn’t take long for GREED to set in. I get the expenses of wages and facility overhead. I love that some of the profit goes to charity in support of health and well-being issues, but seriously…? I just could not find a common pricing theme or scheme. I reckon it will be an even longer extended absence before I go back in to see if the Village is pawning at reasonable rates.

Well, it is about damn time someone with same history as me in regards to value village shops screamed it out. What a great article, word by word , truth is called. You said it girl , thank you . Amen I am cutting down on going there cause at winners I found a few items of same thing same price as used. And also the fact that recent past I found out a lot about value village company through Wikipedia while googling a store nearby where we just moved , and thought wholly crap, all my life I thought I am yes recycling but buying from another Corp who I thought helps the community , that and the new climbing prices got my attention to go there and treat it like any other big Corp store.

Value Village has lost favor with me increasingly over the last decade. Admittedly I shop there often simply because I enjoy shopping and feeling good about a bargain, but I have the advantage of Senior’s receiving 30% off on Tues. so keep to this day of the week. I have no illusions about the fact that VV is hugely about profit, but it is the margins of profit that are obscene, the charging of cast -off clothing to impoverished countries, the blatant dishonesty of their marketing strategy that tries to make us believe that our donations support local charities when they do so only very little and their disregard for the poor that are increasingly turning me away. Why in the world are they charging used toddler pajamas for 7.99, or used kids mittens for 3.99? I’ve often seen clothing with original price tags on, but if you look closely you will see that mark down price tags have been remove, so something priced at $40 might very well have sold for $10. VV price $14.99. And their shoe prices are outrageous, some 40 or more $’s. (even smelly, fake leather ones). For those commentators that are indignant about lack of facts, my experience is that those of us that have shopped there for years can’t help but see the greed escalating, and there are plenty of web sites that tell the story of VV very well. One site I read told the story of Warren Buffet being one of the early owners who sold the company for millions. Case in point.

All my donations now go to the Salvation Army where we see direct results from their work.

Thank you for your provocative article. Yes, as many of the commenters noted, many of your statements were not backed up by facts and research. Consumers and donors have a right to know about the business model under which Savers/Value Village/Village des Valeurs operates. For that reason I wrote a series of investigative articles focused on Value Village, the Bellevue-WA-based retailing giant, and other so called ‘for profit’ thrift stores, exploring the issues for InvestigateWest, based in Seattle.

The articles were published on NBCNEWS.com and in the Seattle Weekly. Since then Value Village and its parent company Savers were sued in December 2017 by Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson, following on a suit by the Minnesota Attorney General.

the Winnipeg Regent Value Village is the highest price or over priced second hand store I have ever seen. Growing up lower income, then being a single income parent, I have used these stores all my life. I have gone across Canada and US and have always stopped in whenever passing one. These past 10 years I have seen a huge increase in prices in the Value Village stores. There are hardly any jeans under 15.00. 19.98 or 17.99 is pretty common. Tops even ripped, old, worn out, stained is 4.99 to start but normally all are 6.99. not one single dress was under 19.99 last time! Even those old thin jean dresses with embroidery around bodice which was about 25 years old. Was no collector though. They had a Nigard suit for 90.00. a suit that would be about 80 new….5 years ago! I mean COMMON! And I don’t care that they put out 10,000 item every day! I care that whomever is responsible for pricing policy or making sure items are priced reasonable and fair based on actual market value (if used should automatically be 50%less than price if I were to buy new on sale) and keep in mind wear and tear, damage, piling, etc. So if sweater is Banana Republic but older, piling, no, you can’t mark it at what that other post was that they mark it 20 percent below what new would be. That is crazy! Now I know why I have seen such insane prices! Also, why would any past employee be so protective about past employers…I would bet this is current employee from head office who’s partial responsibility is to help regulate all the very negative press and info on Value Village this past couple years! I am sure they try to misdirect all those who have had enough and feel the company is a sham, and are disgusted by what they are doing! I say everyone..get on Facebook, Twitter, forward on a complete boycott at least for 6 months! If possible one year! Show them that we as a society can work together to make change.

I observe closely the section on glassware. I notice that in the past year or so you can hardly find complete sets of glasses, sets of crystal, sets of china , sets of china, porcelain or ceramic dishes. It is curious that only partial sets show up for sale. As well, books were a source for anyone who wanted good readings available at a reasonable price. Now, books are priced using the “suggested retail price” on the inside cover and discounted it by 30%. I know this to be true because I had donated my books to Value Village and saw them for sale at the store. Pat

I don’t know what store you work for, but the items that don’t sell are NOT thrown in the trash. they are bailed and sold to other countries, who then turn around and piece out the bundles and sell them. also I have to agree with April, value village has never claimed to be nonprofit and people who think it is need to do more basic reading

You would think Value Village would run two outlets, one for the trendy higher cost, and one for the necessary lower cost. The, no-one would complain about the costs, they could charge what they please for the high end, nd they could make money both ways.

Value Village is being sued again for being a con go online to read the article they are so crooked that waste that is sent to a landfill and the invoice goes to the charity i know talked to an employee

I live in Windsor the store on Tecumseh road has semi trucks parked in a FORE ZONE and one in the back of the store that alternate when they are emptied then the refuse is sent to the landfill each week the giant container goes to the landfill and i do believe V.V. is breaking the law because there is no way that this container contains trash just from Essex County,the law says only refuse from the county,read Value Village lawsuits and Value village scams on the internet.V.V. has installed a recycling plant at the back of the store!

I always end up reading these articles at this time of the year as I sort through my things to donate and get ready for the new year. I always donate my higher quality, very little wear-and-tear things directly to local shelters so they can go directly to people who need them. But what about things that are not so bad that they belong to the trash and things that shelters are not accepting? I don’t want to just throw things away if they’re still at an okay state.

It’s always a conflict because on one hand, I hate supporting these CEOs, but on the other hand, where else can you give away things that: 1) you won’t be able to resell online, 2) don’t care enough for them to take the time to set up, wait for it to be bought, and ship, 3) you don’t think is quality enough to directly give to shelters? It’s something that I know somebody would still buy at $0.99 so… why not?

There’s a much bigger issue that is usually completely overlooked. So much of the clothing donated to any charity eventually finds its way to developing countries, regardless of the condition of the clothes. It has the effect of eliminating local clothing manufacturers in developing countries, since they can’t compete with the price. These are countries that would benefit far more from having local textile industry than cheap old clothes from wealthy nations. Plus since everything is sent to developing countries whether or not the clothes are wearable their landfills become the dumps for the garbage clothing of rich countries. People in wealthy countries really need to stop buying clothing they don’t need. Charity donation buns makes people feel they’re doing something good by donating their used clothing but that’s rarely the case.

I just wanted to answer a few questions I have read here regarding The Salvation Army Thrift Stores. They do not charge sales tax because The Salvation Army is not only a Thrift Store but a major charity in Canada. They are the second largest provider of social services in Canada next to the government. All proceeds raised from thrift store sales go to the many organizations run by the SA. People /families in need no matter of race, religion, or sexual orientation are welcome to visit the centers and speak with councillors, Those in need will be given vouchers redeemable for clothing and furniture items at no cost. The Salvation Army depends on your donations to fund the many programs they offer to the public at no charge such as employment counselling, Addiction counselling, food banks, disaster relief, and of course they operate many homeless shelters across the country. The Salvation Army offers many other programs and services. The Salvation Army is the original thrift store, they have been doing it for a century, long before it was trendy.

All of my thrift shopping is done at the Salvation Army as well all of my donations go there.

Their prices are totally disgusting plus you have to pay taxes. I will ever donate to them again. You do not pay taxes at the Salvation Army and their prices are reasonable. Value Village should be investigated. Value Village receives free donations from people steady. One day I cleaned out my closet and donated to them about 30 shoulder bags. Plus many household items. I saw my purses all priced over $ 29.99 and up to 59.99. They did not give me any discount because it was not enough volume. So figure out how much money they made on my shoulder bags, etc. without even investing a penny. As far as I am concerned they are crooks.

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